"One of the advantages of the project would be that it would connect Metra's SouthWest Service to the Rock Island Line around 74th Street and Normal Avenue, which would allow the service to terminate at the underused LaSalle Street station rather than at clogged Union Station — eliminating delays and freeing capacity for more intercity rail service, according to IDOT".

I thought Grand Crossing was around 75th street and s south chicago street /I90 ?. I was sure this is where the CREATE maps put it , and the project is to provie a connection between the 2 main lines there. In the above article they appear to be talking about a different / smaller junction.

Grand Crossing involves connecting the CN's ex-IC route to the NS at 79th Street. This will allow the CONO, Illini, Saluki, and maybe the Cardinal to head straight into Union Station without a backup move at 21st St.The 75th Street project eliminates congestion for freight trains and Metra's Southwest Service and allows for the construction of a short route to connect the Southwest line with the Rock Island so that the Southwest can use LaSalle Street station and the 47th Street yard, easing pressure on the south side of Union Station (and the BNSF/Metra yard and servicing facilities.They are two separate projects.

Thanks CHTT1. Yes ,I see that. It appears P2 and P3 have to be in place, to create track capacity for the P4 project , i.e to allow the Amtrak Illinois trains to use the NS route into Union Station. So P4, the one that benefits Amtrak the most, will be the last passenger project.

Grand Crossing is where CN(IC) crosses under NS(PRR/NYC) at 75th street, immediately adjacent to the Chicago Skyway I-90. It was also the site of an armed skirmish between IC and LSMS, NYC predecessor.